The city’s Board of Health notched an important victory Wednesday as a Manhattan judge upheld a first-of-its-kind mandate requiring sodium labels and warnings for certain menu items at chain restaurants.

“Information is power,” said Supreme Court justice Eileen Rakower, rejecting the National Restaurant Association's argument that the required warnings amounted to a burden on either consumers or franchise owners.

She said the warning, which consumers can ignore if they choose, does not exceed the Board of Health’s regulatory authority — a critical decision for a health department that believes it has a responsibility to make it easier for New Yorkers, particularly minorities and low-income New Yorkers, to make better health choices.